Computer Crime Prevention

Emails from Financial Institutions
It is important to note that financial institutions are not in the habit of contacting customers by email unless that customer has signed up for such a service. So, if you receive an email message from a financial institution that you are not currently doing business with, it is best to disregard the email message. If you receive an email from your bank requesting that some action be taken on your part, do not click on any links provided in the email body. Instead, go to the trusted web address for your bank, sign in using their secure procedures, and verify whether the action needs to be taken or not.

Banks across Maine have started an initiative to help inform their customers about phishing and similar financial crimes. More information can be found on the No Phishing website.

General Computer Security

Task 1 - Install and Use Anti-Virus Programs

Task 2 - Keep Your System Patched

Task 3 - Use Care When Reading Email with Attachments

Task 4 - Install and Use a Firewall Program

Task 5 - Make Backups of Important Files and Folders

Task 6 - Use Strong Passwords

Task 7 - Use Care When Downloading and Installing Programs

Task 8 - Install and Use a Hardware Firewall

Task 9 - Install and Use a File Encryption Program and Access Controls 2

Tips to Avoid Financial Crimes

Never use a debit card to conduct online transactions. Use a credit card instead. Credit card companies will allow you to dispute fraudulent transactions, whereas the cash you deposited in your bank account is much more difficult to replace once it is gone.

Cancel any credit or debit cards as soon as possible after they are stolen.